"The Shenwu Academy? What kind of place is that?" Su Mo was very curious. It sounded like a martial arts school.
"The Shenwu Academy is a martial arts school founded by many powerful forces. You will be protected there!" Steward Chai explained.
Su Mo nodded. He did not keep asking about Shenwu Academy. Since it was founded by many powerful forces, it must be quite extraordinary.
"I'll be frank with you. I was a disciple of Shenwu Academy. I left the Academy more than 300 years ago!"
A look of nostalgia shone in Steward Chai's eyes as he thought of his younger years.
After pondering for some time, Su Wu nodded solemnly. "Since you have shown me the way forward, I will go to Shenwu Academy!"
He was certain that Steward Chai would not harm him. With his superior strength, he did not need to lie to Su Mo.
"However, that Honorable superior from the Sorcerer tribe still hasn't left. He must be watching me in secret. There might be more than one person," Su Mo said, frowning.
"It'll be fine. You can leave. I will take care of it myself," Steward Chai said.
Su Mo heaved a sigh of relief, but then he thought of something and worriedly said, "The Sorcerer tribe is so powerful. Offending the tribe would mean trouble for you."
"Ha ha!"
Steward Chai broke into laughter. "Are you worried for me? You don't need to be. I am an elder of the strongest Sect in Star Beiling, the Caiyun Clan. They can't do anything to me."
Su Mo suddenly realized that the Craftsman Guild was very loosely bonded. All its Craftsmen belonged to different factions.
It seemed that Steward Chai was no exception. He was an elder of a superpower.
"Very well then, Steward Chai, I won't take up any more of your time. I will leave after some quick preparations. I must forestall my problems with a quick exit," Su Mo said solemnly.
"Alright." Steward Chai nodded and became silent. Then, he turned his palm up. A jade slip appeared on his palm.
He made some notes on the jade slip and then handed it over to Su Mo.
"Su Mo, take this jade slip and go to the Shenwu Academy. Look for my former teacher, Grand Master Huoyuan. He will arrange your stay there," Steward Chai said.
"Grand Master Huoyuan?" Su Mo nodded and kept the jade slip solemnly.
"Actually, I helped you partly because of my former teacher."
Steward Chai smiled faintly and continued speaking. "He's looking for a person to inherit his transcendental craftsmanship. You fit the bill."
"So Grand Master Huoyuan is a craftsman as well!" Su Mo smiled.
"Yes. He is looking for a very gifted heir and craftsman to continue his legacy. Naturally, we disciples look out for him." Steward Chai smiled as well.
Su Mo and Steward Chai continued chatting for a while. After Steward Chai gave him the precise directions to Star Guzhou, Su Mo finally decided to leave.
"Steward Chai, I shall take my leave!" Su Mo rose and gave him a deep bow.
"Very well."
Steward Chai raised his head up a little and smiled. "When you reach a higher realm in your craftsmanship, do visit Star Beiling again. We can exchange notes on craftsmanship."
"Certainly!" Su Mo nodded solemnly. He bade goodbye and left.
Watching Su Mo's silhouette disappear, Steward Chai smiled very faintly. He mumbled to himself. "Master, I have found you a good heir. I hope you will be satisfied!"
…
After leaving Steward Chai's residence, Su Mo went straight for his room to prepare to leave with Qin Busi.
However, from a distance, he saw a man loitering outside his door.
The person was none other than Lu Yun.
"Master Su, you are finally back!"
When Lu Yun saw Su Mo return, he met him eagerly. His face was full of reverence.
"What can I do for you?" Su Mo asked nonchalantly. He did not like him at all—a greedy, snobbish backstabber.
Had Su Mo not become a craftsman of the Guild, he would not have even looked at him.
"Master Su, I didn't know how exalted you are. I'm sorry to have offended you. Please don't take it to heart!" Lu Yun was uneasy. He was afraid that Su Mo would make trouble for him.
Although he had done many things to help Su Mo in the past, he had also received many benefits for his efforts.
Furthermore, he was the one who brought Wu Fan to the forge. This had greatly offended Su Mo.
Su Mo stared at the perturbed Lu Yun. His thoughts turned and a smile flashed across his face. He coldly said, "You've received so many benefits from me. Do you think I wouldn't take offense? Am I so kind?"
"Oh... !" Lu Yun's heart began to palpitate. He looked agonized. Su Mo really would not let him off!
"However... it all depends on your performance!" Su Mo continued.
"Master Su, please explain!" Lu Yun said hastily.
"I'm kind of broke right now. Get me a few hundred billion Supreme Spiritual Stones to spend!" Su Mo said quietly.
He was too lazy to deal with Lu Yun, but Lu Yun had come after him. Before he left, he must make the other man cough out some money.
"A few hundred billion Supreme Spiritual Stones?" Lu Yun's eyes widened and he looked flabbergasted.
"What? Don't you have any?" Su Mo's face quickly turned cold. An icy light shone in his eyes.
"No, no, I do, I do! Wait for me a while, Master. I'll get it all ready for you." Lu Yun nodded desperately. He left with lightning speed.
Su Mo was shocked. He had just been joking. He had not thought Lu Yun actually had so many Spiritual Stones.
Su Mo then shook his head. He entered his room, greeted Qin Busi, and told him they would leave immediately after Lu Yun returned.
Lu Yun did not keep Su Mo waiting. Around three hours later, he returned.
"Master Su, this storage ring contains 120 Lower Spiritual Crystals and a few Lower Imperial weapons. I'm sorry, but these are all my assets."
Lu Yun handed him the storage ring. His heart was aching.
"Lower Spiritual Crystals?" Su Mo's curiosity was aroused. He took the storage ring and his mind probed it. He saw the Spiritual Crystals within.
Each Spiritual Crystal was as large as a goose egg. It was completely white and looked just like the unique gem he had pocketed after killing the Trial Tester.
Su Mo was moved. So this was a Spiritual Crystal. It looked more valuable than a Spiritual Stone.
"How many Supreme Spiritual Stones is a Lower Spiritual Crystal worth?" Su Mo asked Lu Yun.
Errr...
Lu Yun was stunned upon hearing this. He had not realized that Su Mo knew nothing about the value of a Spiritual Crystal.
He did his best to explain. "A Spiritual Crystal is the supreme essence of a Spiritual lode. There's a little Spiritual Sea inside. One Spiritual Crystal is worth a billion Supreme Spiritual Stones!"
"So many?" Su Mo's eyes shone. In other words, more than 100 Spiritual Crystals would be worth more than 100 billion Supreme Spiritual Stones.
If he could get hold of a few hundred Spiritual Crystals, he would have nothing to worry about!
Su Mo's thoughts could scare a person to death.
Even one Spiritual Crystal was an immense wealth, let alone a few hundred Spiritual Crystals!
Lu Yun had spent more than a decade in the Craftsman Guild. He had received so many benefits from numerous people, yet, he could only amass less than 200 Spiritual Crystals.
"Master Su, that's all the money I have. Could you... ?" Lu Yun stared uneasily at Su Mo.
Although Su Mo's naivety made him very unhappy, he did not show it. He only hoped that Su Mo would forgive him.
"Hmmm... not bad. I'm very satisfied. You may go!" Su Mo said this with a smiling face. He had not expected Lu Yun would bring him a few hundred billion Spiritual Stones. A little more than 100 Lower Spiritual Crystals was good enough.
"Thank you, Master Su, for your magnanimity!" Lu Yun was overjoyed. He saluted Su Mo with one cupped fist in a hand, happy that he was forgiven.
As for the Spiritual Crystals, he could just earn them again!
After some time, Lu Yun bowed and excused himself.
Afterward, Su Mo and Qin Busi left the room. They walked out of the Craftsman Guild and headed for Star Guzhou.